Lately, mornings with my (almost) 3-year old son have been dreadfully similar to the presidential debates. Both parties saying the same things over and over again…forcing smiles between gritted teeth to try and maintain some sense of decorum (ok, so that one is just on my side)…and in the end, no one coming out a winner.

My husband is the moderator, stepping in to remind us that we both agreed to the (unspoken) terms of the mother/son relationship and we really need to stick to them.

It’s the quintessential war of wills – one that every parent has experienced at some point during the course of toddler-hood. However, considered alongside this election, the similarities have brought me much hilarity.

Obviously, his newfound independence – evidenced by his daily opinions on what shirt he wears, whether or not he brushes his teeth and uses the potty – can be attributed to his age. No one ever knows when this behavior may rear its ugly head, and surely no one knows when it will end.

But then, just when you think you’ll never make it to the breakfast table, a morning like yesterday happens. I very hesitantly – but swiftly – began placing a shirt over his head and he said the magic words I’ve been longing to hear at the tender hour of 7am, “Mommy, I like this shirt.”

What is up with these women who use their husbands’ email addresses? Like johndoe@verizon.net. How hard is it to get your own email address? Or, if your husband never uses the email, why not just get it in your name?

I’m not quite sure why this bugs me so much. I mean really, what difference does it make to me what email they use? But there’s something about the way women have fought so hard to be recognized as individuals, apart from their husbands and children, that makes it necessary for women to get their own email addresses. It’s a symbol of independence and self. It says that you are not just Mrs. John Doe, but you are your own person, despite the many demands put on you by family, friends, and coworkers.

And speaking of work, you don’t use your husband’s email at work, do you? So why use it at home?!!

It’s not like it costs tons of money. Once you pay your Internet Service Provider its monthly fee, it generally permits a number of emails to be used on one account. Or you could always go the really free route and get a Yahoo or Gmail account. Plus the benefit of this is that you can check it anywhere, on any computer, and if you change ISP’s you don’t have to change your email.

Also, you’d be doing me a personal favor by using your own email. I could get into serious trouble corresponding with your husbands. What if my husband looked over my shoulder to see that I was carrying on a conversation with John Doe? He might accuse me of infidelity and divorce me. Do you really want that on your conscience? Of course not. So, please, do the right thing.

Ladies, you owe it to yourselves (and to me) to GET YOUR OWN EMAIL ADDRESS!

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